Re: [contrib] Project: TXP Subway Map

nardo wrote: the benefit of cities/suburbs etc (as opposed to just flat subway maps) is that importance/activity/relationship is represented graphically

I think there’s ways of successfully communicating “importance/activity/relationship” without all the unnecessary eye candy (or visual pollution). My feeling, FWIW, is that too much visual thematics is beyond practicality here. I looked at that sim city thing and I’m immediately hit with a learning curve. Imposing a learning curve on the users is not what we want to do here. I would caution again, and echo Alexandra, we want simplicity (I would hope).

I still think AJAX is the right way to go here, though Mr. Riff’s second bullet above may be more practical. I can’t say for sure.

Please, everyone, let’s remember what this is really for: it’s for helping people to quickly find an access these various information locations so they can simply do what they really want to do, use Textpattern. We want to do that in the most optimal, lightweight manner. Of course you want to have a little fun with the design concept too, but just don’t go overboard.

neutrino wrote: Anyone else besides Basitian want to work on this?

I guess you can consider me a stakeholder in this project, if nothing else, because TextBook will be a significant destination in this railway and I’ll want to make sure the train gets there on time. ;)

For that matter, I think every leader of a TxP site should be a stakeholder in this project, giving feedback and having some say with the implementation.

Re: [contrib] Project: TXP Subway Map

> Bastian wrote:

i hear the map screaming, but i don`t understand what.

:) lol. it is abstract (and distributed). As I stared at it I could see various symbols representing various aspects of the community in the scattered way it is now. Add a little color and a legend . . .

Seriously, the subway lines/cities are still the main idea as far as I can tell from what everyone has said so far. Still waiting for a design type to show up.

@mr. riff thanks for coming to visit. I’m going to assume everyone here is in on seeing this project thru to its end (more or less regardless of the details?) so I’ll go register everyone as members of the project, if that’s OK. Yell if not.

Re: [contrib] Project: TXP Subway Map

Don’t start with a design first. First, collect all the data, then decide how to organize it, or you’ll end up with problems later. The suggestion of using FreeMind is a good idea, not as the final, but for organizing and mockup. Then you can use that to decide the implementation.

I agree with simplifying it as Destry mentioned. More complicated means it’ll either: never be finished, never be maintained, or never actually used.

Last edited by Mary (2006-03-02 19:48:26)

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@Destry, Mary, Alex I agree function first. But I think we have that down pretty much — a hierarchical map. One of the next steps is to test whether the visual we have in mind fits with the way the data will be presented to it—ie dynamically. We sure don’t want that ugly Microsoft tube screensaver to be the result. And for that we need a sketch.

@Destry yes everyone is a stakeholder but everyone is not going to get everything they want (probably). I really hate to sound like Zem but it’s going to come down to what gets done rather than what gets envisioned.

@Alex I would love to see a sketch or mulitiple sketches from various designers. I agree visuals are inspiring.

The design part here I think is pretty math-oriented (it would depend on what the math can do quickly).

@Nardo don’t get discouraged about the virtual stuff. Technologically I think the 3D environment is the future. It’s just not that good yet—too square and boxy and slow. You’re just ahead of the curve.

Re: [contrib] Project: TXP Subway Map

Neutrino asked me to head up this project. I declined for lack of time and effort, but I’m sure he’ll make a very capable project lead.

The conceptual work should probably take precedence over the stylistics, especially since we aren’t clear yet about what exactly we’re going to do. Then again, people like to look at stuff, so if you’re a visual designer and have comps to gawk at — do pass them along.

I suggest Neutrino start a Yahoo group that all interested parties can sign up to. We’d then work out a blueprint and submit that blueprint back to this Board for discussion before we build anything.